March 13, 2006

We’ll let you decide

In order to address the accusations that we are making something out of nothing, here is the resolution in question:

WHEREAS the blog, as well as the concept of its name “Fuddle Duddle are the property of the Young Liberals of Canada (Quebec);

WHEREAS although it is explicitly written on the blog’s site that the YLC(Q) does not endorse the comments written on the blog, perception of the public may be different, which may lead to problems in a leadership race where media coverage will be high;

WHEREAS not all YLC(Q) members will work for the same candidate for leadership, which requires a neutrality of all communication tools of the YLC(Q), including Fuddle Duddle;

WHEREAS we are now in the pre-campaign of a leadership race

WHEREAS a link to official candidate sites and official blogs will be available on the YLC(Q) as soon as candidates are declared, making access to information about candidates and discussion to our members;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the executive of the YLC(Q) suspend, in a preventive manner, the Fuddle Duddle blog beginning at the end of this meeting until the meeting of our executive after the election of the next leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.

44 Commentaires:

I am breaking my silence after using the weekend to think over what happened.

This is the first time I comment on what happened.

Firstly, on the resolution itself, I have a few issues. The blog belongs to Marc-André, something I pointed out at the meeting. The executive disagreed and pursued their cause.

Secondly, I find it odd that the only people in a year since Fuddle Duddle hit the web to complain about the fact the disclaimer isn’t enough are these executive members, and for the first time at that meeting. I have never received any indication that anything my colleagues or I wrote was the official opinion of the JLC(Q).

Here is my main problem: the executive voted to shut down a website, after being warned it was not possible. They now claim they intended only for disaffiliation, not to shut down my opinion or those of my colleagues. Read what was passed and judge for yourself.

My favorite part is this: they want a “neutrality of all communication tools of the YLC(Q), including Fuddle Duddle” but our official spokesperson was giving an interview to the Gazette the day before where she was endorsing a candidate.

Marco, while I allow free speech on my blog, I think that it is unfair to Brigitte for people to speculate her salary.

She is not yet getting paid by Belinda. We dont know how much she will get paid and honestly, I dont care what it is. But i think its harsh to say she did this for money reasons. Brigitte explained to me she does believe in Belinda Stronach, and I believe her. She has never given me reason to doubt her honesty before. I doubt she would start now.

To respond to Luc's comment, I proposed diaffiliation and was shot down as the exec kept claiming they owned the concept of FD

here was the compromise "guidelines"

"Antonio, will you not comment on anything leadership related until the end of the race?

What if a candidate says I am opposed to Kyoto? I cant comment.

What if a candidate is against same-sex-marraige. I cant comment.

How ridiculous is that? Could I have possibly told Alex, Marc, and Denise that this partial muzzle was not muzzling at all? i did not let them down. I always respond that I will comment on what is in the news. Nothing will change.

First things first, Brigitte Legault is going to be paid $70K for an 8 month contract.

Second, Brigitte makes me sick. A huge part of why the Party is currently in shambles is because it is so torn apart by loyalties. As a leader in the Liberal community, it is her job to work towards unity, but she has done the opposite: she has decided to play hardball with family. She is exacerbating already significant problems.

Fourth, Brigitte is acting like a total hypocrite by acting as an official spokesperson of YLC(Q) and so openly supporting Stronach.

Fifth, if Brigitee wants to keep up with her "neutrality" gig, I would encourage Antonio and all them to vote upon her resignation because the perception of the public, "which may lead to problems in a leadership race where media coverage will be high" and because she voted to have a neutrality of "ALL communication tools of the YLC(Q)".

WHEREAS Brigitte Legault has voted in favour of a neutrality of all communication tools during a leadership campaign;

WHEREAS We are currently in a leadership campaign;

WHEREAS Brigitte Legault has lead the campaign to disassociate Fuddle Duddle with YLC(Q) because of it's supposed lack of neutrality;

WHEREAS Brigitte Legault claims that the neutrality of YLC(Q) is vitally important because (A) during a leadership campaign media coverage will be high; and (B)not all YLC(Q) members will work for the same candidate for leadership;

WHEREAS Brigitte Legault is the official spokesperson for the YLC(Q);

WHEREAS Brigitte Legault has already been in contact with media supporting her candidate of choice;

WHEREAS Brigitte Legault will be paid (excessively) by a leadership candidate to work on his/her campaign;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Executive of the YLC(Q) suspend, in a preventative manner, Brigitte Legault as President and Official Spokesperson beginning immediately until the meeting of the Executive after the election of the next leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.

All this in-fighting takes away from the real issues at hand. Consequently, it looks like the YLCQ has no focus and leadership issues. Furthermore, in the end, this leadership race is truely a race of B-Team players, candidates who don't do much to catch the attention of the average voter. A unlingual candidate is a great thing for the Conservatives. They will be able to say that they better represent Quebec... at least their leader has made efforts to become bilingual, something which can be appreciated at the polling booth.

En fait Brigitte c'est abstenu du vote. My point on saying she was the official spokesperson was simply to indicate that it is impossible to "neutralize" absolutely everything as even Brigitte would not be allowed to take a position on that premise.

I was not asking for her to resign, far from it. I want her in her position. However, I did want the executive to think about their decision. Max and Luc know I HATE defamation. I will speak out against it every time.

I really hope that this leadership race will allow young liberals to recognize that suporting another leadership candidate or disagreeing with a candidate does not make you a traitor to the Liberal Party.

1) If you upset within a political party, there is now a better chance that it will become well known even if no MSM find it interesting. One result may be that the MSM print stories they would not have printed in the past because blogs suggest real interest in the free market of news;

2) If you do post complaints online, they will be taken seriously. You will also make it more difficult to settle problems that might otherwise be settled amicably.

Sadly, everything Brigitte Legault touches ends up dead. YLC-Q: Dead. Liberal Campaign in Quebec: Dead. Next - Stronach campaign: Will be dead on the 1st ballot. Just like her idol Paul Martin, she has the opposite of the Midas touch.

I am but a lowly British Columbian who only knows little about the issues surrounding FD.

I don't know any of you, so I have no opinion on any of you guys personally, but I am saddened that the Executive would want to censor the public's comments.

I found a great blurb from Michael Crook's blog and thought it would be great food for thought for the Executive. Please read it. Antonio et al, please keep fighting for your right to freedom of speech!

Freedom of Speech

Disclaimer: Rant to follow

I'm posting the quote below because as near as I can tell, Freedom of Speech has been grossly deformed in the minds of many in the Liberal Party. Understanding this most "liberal" of ideas must remain at the center of any attempt at renewal. Perhaps we are too used to the contraints of power and have forgotten not only that dissent is not disloyalty but also that the only message that will be heard or persuasive is a message that people choose to hear.

“Plato establishes the principle all too frequently ignored today that freedom of speech includes also the liberty to refuse to listen. Freedom of speech serves the purposes of rational discussion; whoever abuses it is breaking the rules of the game as accepted by civilized society; such violation demands social sanctions and when milder forms of warning have no effect, one has no option but to turn one's back on the offender and go away.” —Eric Voegelin

If we are unable to renew the party in such a way that those who come in its doors are welcomed and those who voice alternative views are not pushed out into the cold then no matter who ends up leading the party, we will inevitably be reduced to a shrill voice crying in the wilderness.

The Greeks taught that all tragedy flows from hubris, let us learn that lesson the easy way and not at the expense of the great country we all wish to help build.

I think if anyone has something to say to Brigitte they should have the courtesy to do just that, and say it TO her.

People who use the anonymity afforded by the internet to slur someone, ostensibly behind their backs, are cowardly. If you want to voice solidarity with Antonio and his attempted muzzling, do so. If you think Brigitte and the majority of the JCLQ Executive have erred in judgement, say it. But, attacking anyone personally on the basis of any one decision is nothing less than silly.

I disagree with the decision, but I won't spare my time to impune anybody's character because I don't like their choices. And, frankly, neither should anybody else.

1. Make the support of your provincial YLC(Q) president irrelevant by resisting mass mind think. Do what's right as leaders (and followers, and quiet leaders) in your own clubs and ridings.

2. Keep the blog going or diversify. DoubleFuddleDuddle.blogspot.com

3. Keep this debate going.

4. Keep the debate of ideas going.

5. I enjoyed the vivid description of Bob Rae in a Plateau apartment. I met Rae in 1996 when he was promoting his memoirs. I was helping organize the event in the Chateau Laurier for Chapters. Put simply, it is difficult not to be impressed by a fine intellect. And since I was 21 at the time of the 1995 vote in Ontario, it was not too hard to have been influenced by Bob Rae's federalist nationalism and leadership in the constitutional debates, especially 1992 (the first thing I voted for) as well as his pragmatism and move to the centre of his left wing Party in Ontario.

6. Keep fuddle duddle as is. It's good.

7. Resign from the executive, and proceed with the power of free speech, ideas, ideology. Outside that constraint, you may have more power and influence than ever before.